Ukrainian metal powerhouse Jinjer bring Duél to Manchester with a bill for fans of the more technical side of heavy metal.
TEXTURES
2026 sees the return of Textures. Having just released their amazing new record, Genotype (our review here), the Dutch outfit are in great spirits as they take the stage in Manchester.
Closer To The Unknown opens their set from their aforementioned new LP. It is a perfect start as one of the standout tracks from Genotype. They have little space to play with such is the amount of kit onstage. Remko Tielemans shuffles around stage perilously, full of enthusiasm on bass. He makes the connection with the front rows and is a great presence. Daniël de Jongh recreates his studio vocals magnificently, moving between clean and harsh vocals effortlessly.
For fans that have been following the band for their more than two decade existence, Textures put together an incredibly tight set that takes in cuts from previous albums; Phenotype, Silhouettes and Dualism. De Jongh remarks that it has been nine years since they have played in Manchester; or been anywhere. The revitalisation of the band is clear to see as they all play with abandon and huge smiles on their faces.
As their short set draws to a close with Laments Of An Icarus, it is clear that many are overjoyed they are band. Prior to doors, there is a huge line outside the venue. Whether they are all here for Textures is anyone’s guess, but they have a great crowd to play to. It is a treat to have Textures back, and hopefully they will return with their own headline tour soon.
UNPROCESSED
Whilst Textures have a lot of technical aspects in their music, Unprocessed ramp up the technicality. There are strings aplenty and guitars to have enthusiasts salivating. They take things up a notch with the brutality in their set, and requests to open up pits are met with fervour.
Angel is their new album, and they play a heavy chunk of it. 111 opens things up with Beyond Heaven’s Gate and and Sleeping With Ghosts making up a trio of newbies at the start of the set. The German quartet are excellent in the sound they proport. Manuel Gardner Fernandes sings in an array of tones and styles as the band behind him pummel things along. The metalcore leanings in amongst the Unprocessed oeuvre give things a harder edge, thus setting things up perfectly for Jinjer.
JINJER
As the huge amount of kit is gradually removed from the stage, Jinjer’s huge video wall is revealed further. Sitting raised and in the centre is Vladislav “Vladi” Ulasevich’s huge drum kit, with a huge array of symbols dominating it.
With a Ukrainian flag draped across the balcony by some fans, the lights dim, and Jinjer emerge from the darkness. Vladi arrives first with Eugene Abdukhanov (bass) and Roman Ibramkhalilov (guitar) taking their places. A little like Unprocessed, Jinjer are here in support of their latest album, Duél. It is always testament to a bands faith in their new material with how much they put into a new set. Getting that mix right can be a real balancing act. Jinjer needn’t have worried. Duél is an excellent record that many are already very familiar with.
Tatiana “Tati” Shmayluk enters after the band get things rolling. Her presence is infectious from the off. She prowls the stage energetically as Jinjer open with the title track before delivering Green Serpent. It is the latter where Tati shows her versatility. ‘The grapes are falling down,’ refrain adds a beautiful vocal style, in contrast to the crushing brutality that she brings.
FAST DRAW
‘You like hardcore, right?’ asks Tati before Fast Draw. It’s a high octane smasher that bludgeons Manchester. The number of crowd surfers increases track by track as the atmosphere becomes more intense. A double hit from 2021’s Wallflowers comes in the form of Disclosure! and Vortex. These tracks tee up a an early set highlight in Teacher, Teacher! The visuals are bright and frenetic, adding to the already raging temperature inside the O2 Ritz.
More cuts from Duél are interspersed with another good clutch of fan favourites. I Speak Astronomy and Pisces from King Of Everything go down an absolute storm. They return for a one song encore of Sit, Stay, Roll Over to a crowd that have lapped up every single second of a band in imperious form.
Each band member plays their own distinct part in creating the groove laden, heavy sound that Jinjer create. It already feels like Jinjer have already done so much. The reality is, they probably still have a few more gears to move through, with their best work still ahead of them. Their sound is impeccable in the live arena; it’s delivered with a style that feels unique to them. After their mainstage performance at Download Festival 2025, they are only going to keep moving up bills around the world, en route to global domination.
Check out a live version of Green Serpent from Resurrection Fest 2025, below.
Jinjer: Website
Unprocessed: Website
Textures: Website